Temperature indicating device for washing machines



May 2; 1939. D. A. LUNDY 2,155,753

TEMPERATURE INDICATING DEVICE FOR WASHING MACHINES Filed' Feb. 17, 19372 Sheets-Sheet l INV ENT OR.

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Lundy ATTORNEY.

D. A. LUNDY- TEMPERATURE INDICATING DEVICE FOR WASHING MACHINES Filed Feb. 17,1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 j V INVENTOR! Daw'dfl .Lundy ATTORNEY.

atenteci oFFic TEMI ERA'T'URE INDICATING DEVICE FOR WASHING MACHINESDavid A. Lundy, Riverside,.lll., assignor to Electric HouseholdUtilities Corporation, Chicago, 11]., a corporation of IllinoisApplication February 17, 1937, Serial No. 126,173

9 claims. (01. 73-343) .Thisinvention relates to temperature indicatingdevices, and more particularly to devices of the type that areespecially adapted for use in" connection with liquids such as inwashing machines and the like.

In the clothes washing art it is well known as a result of experimentand scientific tests that the temperature of the water or washing fluidduring 1 'etc., the temperature of the washing fluid used in connectionwith such fabrics desirably should fall within a certain range to insureeflicient washing of the clothes. In some instances, if the temperatureof the washing fluid is too low the fabrics do not become cleansedefiiciently during a normal period of operation of the washing machine.While, on the other hand, if the temperature of the washing fluid istoohigh there isa tendency to cause the dirt to more firmly adhere tothe fabric, and stains, such as causedby perspiration, to become set.

Materials of certain types, such as rayon, should not'be washed in hotwater as it tends to soften the material and causes disintegration,while with 1 other fabrics, such as wool, excessive shrinking results.It is well known that soaps do not readily dissolve in the washing fluidthat is .cool, hence it is highlyv desirable to use water or washingfluid at the highest temperature possible, as may be determined to beproper by the characteristics of the material being washed. Furthermore.certain fabrics which contain dyes or other coloring matter must also bewashed in fluids of a certain temperature range in order to avoidrunning or fading of the dyes or other coloring matter.

In a vast number of washing machines now being used in the homes andapartment dwellings the washing operation is performed in a hit-ormissfashion as far as the temperature of the washing fluid is concerned.This not only results in inefiicient washing of the fabrics but infrequent instances necessitates operation of the machine for longerperiods'of time than are necessary, resulting in materially reducing thelife and serviceability of the fabrics, as well as imposing excessiveand unnecessary wear and tear on the machine.

The present invention contemplates the provision of a temperatureindicating device in associathe top of the impeller member and tion witha movable impeller or' agitating member of .the washing machine in amanner for conveniently indicating the temperatures of the washingfluid, to assist in efilclently. washing fabrics and clothes of variouscharacteristics.

One of the objects of this invention resides in the provision of a novelconstruction wherein a temperature indicating element is fixedlyassociated with a part of the impeller of the washing machine anddisposed in a position to be conveniently observed when the tube'of themachine is filled withwashing fluid to its normal operating level.

Another object is to provide a novel construc- "tion and mounting of atemperature indicating device in association with a washing machineimpeller member which is formed of metal of high heat conductivity.

A further object is to provide a novel construction wherein atemperature indicating device is formed as a permanent part of. theimpeller of a washing machine and which is simple in construction,efficient in operation and capable of being economically manufactured. Y

. Another object is to provide an improved device of the characterindicated which may be.

quickly attached or detached'from the impeller .member of awashing'machine for purposes of repair or replacement.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentin the following description, taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings in which:

i Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view, part in elevation and part in section,of a washing machine tub having an impeller member mounted therein,provided with a temperature indicating device constituting the presentinvention, Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section through thetemperature indicating device.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the indicating device.-

Fig. 4- is a transverse section through the temperature indicatingdevice taken as indicated at line 4-4 on Fig. 2. n

Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical section through the upper end of animpeller member and a modified form of temperature indicating device.

Fig. 6 is aplan view of the modified form of indicating device.

Fig. 7 is a, view in side elevation of the modified form of device shownin Fig. 5, with a portion of the housing broken away to show theinternal construction of the indicating device.

Fig. 8 is a transverse vertical section through the upper end 'or theimpeller member and a further modifled form of temperature indicatingdevice.

Fig. 9 is a planview or the temperature. indicating device shown in Fig.8.

In its broadest aspect the present invention is directed to theprovision or a temperature indicating device in association with amovable impeller or agitator member in a washing machine,.

wherein said impeller member is formed of metal of high heatconductivity, such as aluminum. For. purposes of illustration I haveshown in the drawings a conventional form of tub Ill of a washingmachine in which a movable impeller or agitator member II is mountedcentrally therein, above the bottom and in spaced relation to the sidewall to permit circulation of the clothes and fluid around and beneaththe impeller. In the construction shown in Fig.1 it may be understoodthat the impeller member which is normally disposed at an angle obliqueto horizontal, is bodily rotatable in an orbit about a vertical axis ofthe tub, and may be operated by driving mechanism of the type similar tothat disclosed in the co-pending application of John Whyte, Serial No.121,922, filed January 23, 1937. It will be manifest, however, that thepresent inventim is equally applicable to impeller members of varioustypes, such as those rotatable about their own vertical axis.

The upper end or the impeller member H is formed with an up-standingprojection l2, the

2 the impeller shaft which external lateral sin-face of which is formedwith an annular groove it. Mounted on said pro- :Iection I2 is a head icontaining a temperature indicating mechanism. Said head I5 includes amain body portion l3 adapted to surround the projection I2 and havingits lower marginal edge abutted against an annular flange or ring II formaintaining it seated against a transverse upwardly facing shoulder llof the impeller member, surrounding the projection l2. Said body isprovided with a set screw IQ extending into the annular. groove ll ofthe projection of the impeller member for. flrmly locking said head inplace thereon, and simultaneously securing the element I! in position.The element i1 is of such size and shape as to constitute a convenienthand grasp for removing the impeller member from is designated at IS.The upper surface of saidbody It is formed with an upwardly open cavityor recess 2| in which is disposed a horizontally extending bimetallicstrip 22 of spiral formation, having its outer end anchored as seen inFig. 2, to a depending leg 23 of a bracket 24 which in turn is s'ecuredto the under side or a transversely extending dial 25 seated upon theupper. surface or an upstanding marginal flange ii of said body ii. Theinner end of the spirally coiled bimetallic strip is connected to avertically disposed mounting pin 26 iournaled in the bracket 24, andsaid dial 25. The upper end of said pin projects above the upper surfaceoi the dial and has rigidly secured thereto an indicating element 28extend ing parallel to and above the upper surface of the dial 25 forregistration with a graduated scale 25' of said dial. 7

Said dial and indicating element 28 are enclosed and protected by atransparent cover 30, the marginal edges of which are embraced atopposite sides by annular gaskets 3!. The cover, together with thedial,, are assembled in fixed relation to the body i6 by means of a cap32 temperature ranges for the having a tubular skirt 32" threadedlyengaged with the outer surface of the body l6 while its upper end isformed with an in-turned annular flange 33 adapted to overlie thegaskets and the marginal edge of the cover 30 for tightly clamping saidmarginal edge and gaskets against the upper surface of the flange l6 ofthe body l3 and thereby forming a fluid-tight seal for precluding thepassage of 'fluid beneath the cover element 30. It is to be understoodthat the cover element may be formed of glass but desirably is formed ofmaterial such as pyroxylin, so that said cover element may not be easilybroken. It will now be apparent that by reason of the fact that theimpeller member H is formed of metal of high heat conductivity and dueto the substantial surface engagement of the body IS with said impellermember, the bimetallic strip 22 will respond quite readily to thetemperature changes of the impeller member ll, the temperature of.

which will be substantially the washing fluid within the tub.

It is to be understood that the graduated area 25' of the dial 25 neednot necessarily be formed ior'indicating temperature in degrees, but maybe graduated in a manner to indicate suitable washing of garments orfabrics of certain definite characteristics. It is also to be understoodthat the head l5 associated with the upper end of the impeller memberdesirably is constructed and designed so that the temperature indicatingdial 25'will always be disposed above the normal operating level of thewashing fluid in the tub. It will be apparent that the temperatureindicating device, when associated with the impeller, is located in amost efllcient zone to permit measuring the average temperature oi theentire body of washing fluid. Moreover, the vibration of the impellermember when in operation serves'to destroy static friction that may setup in the bimetallic strip.

The modified form of my invention disclosed in Figs. 5 to '7 comprises abody 35 connected to the upperend of the impeller member II in the samemanner as above described in connection with the construction shown inFigs. 1

to 4. Said body is formed with a pair of transversely spaced apartupwardly extending ears or standards 36, the upper ends of which areslotted as indicated at 36, to provide a seat for a horizontallyextending pin 31 which is rigidly secured in place by crimping the metalat the upper ends of said slots, inwardly as seen in Fig. 5. Avertically disposed spirally coiled bimetallic element 33, is positionedbetween said up-standing cars 35 as seen in Fig. '7 with the inner endof the coil rigidly connected to said pin 31. The upper surface of theouter convolution of the bimetallic strip is graduated as indicated at39 for registration with an apertured window formed in the rounded topof a housing 40 which encloses said bimetallic strip. Said housing is ofthimble-like form having its lower marginal portion rigidly secured on areduced neck 35 at the upper end of said body portion 35 forming afluid-tight seal. The upper end of said body is formed with an openingll beneath which a transparent panel 42 is mounted in sealing engagementaround the marginal edges of said opening by a fram 43 which is rigidlysecured to the inner surface of said housing 40 such as' byspot-welding. De-

sirably the outer marginal edges of said trans-.

parent panel are embraced by gaskets 44 to form a fluid-tight seal topreclude the passage of fluid through said opening II, to the interiorof the the temperature of p 2,1 eaves the bimetallic strip 38. A rollerit, carried in a bracket 46, issecured to the inside of the top oihousing 40 in position for contact with the outer convolution of thebimetallic element 36, for

guiding and confining said element during its expanding and contractingmovement. a

By reason of the metal-to-metal contact of the impeller li with the body35 and the up-standing ears 36 of said body with the bimetallic elementat, said bimetallic strip will respond rather quickly to thetemperaturechanges of the impeller member H which, as above mentioned, willcorrespond approximately to the temperature of the washing fluid. Afurther modification of my invention is represented in Figs. 8 and 9,wherein the head connected to the upper end of the impeller member Hincludesa body 50 secured to said impeller in a manner as abovedescribed in connection with Figs. 1 to 1. Said body is provided with anupwardly-open cavity or recess 5| of substantial depth having one ormore laterally opening ducts or apertures 52. Disposed in said recess isa bulb portion of a fluid-type thermometer element 55, the tube portion56 of which projects above the upper surface of thebody 50, and is ofarcuate formation as seen in Fig. 9. The upper surface of said body 5|],over which the arcuate portion 56 of the thermometer is dis posed,extends in an upwardly inclined direction as seen in Fig. 8, and saidarcuate portion ofthe thermometer is correspondingly inclined so as toinsure efficient responsive action'of the fluid in the thermometer andthereby preclude separation of the fluid due to vibration, which mighttake place if said arcuate portion extended in a true horizontaldirection. Said arcuate portion '56 is secured to the upper surface ofsaid body 50 bya pair of clips 51 while the bulb portion 5,4 is'supported and anchored in the recess 5| by a body of cementitious material or cork as indicated at 58. I

The outer marginal edge of of the body 50 is formed with an up-standingannular flange 50 on which is seated a transparent cover element 60, theouter marginal edges of which are embraced between a pair of gaskets 6i.Threadedly secured to the upper end of the body is a cap 82 having itsupper end formed with a transverse flange 63 for embracing the gasketsand marginal edge of the cover element 80, forming a' seal against thepassage of fluid around the marginal edge of the cover.

It will be apparent that the bulb portion 54 of the thermometer byreason of its close association to the metal of the body 50 which inturn is in direct contact with the impeller memher it, will respondrather quickly to the temperature changes in the body H. To insureagainst an insulating body of air surrounding the bulb 5 the apertures52 permit circulation of the air contained in the recess 5|. Theseopenings may also permit a small quantity of the splash of the fluid tocome in direct contact with the bulb of the thermometer while theimpeller member is in operation, thereby assisting in accuratelyindicating the temperature of the washing fluid.

Although I have herein shown and described certain preferred embodimentsof my invention, manifestly it is capable of further modification theupper portion and rearrangement without departing from the spirit andscope thereof. I do not, therefore, wish to be undei'stood as limitingthis invention to the precise forms herein disclosed, except asit may beso limited in the appended claims.

I claim: 1. The combination with a washing machine having a tub adaptedto contain washing fluid and clothes to be washed; of an impeller membermounted in the tub and rotatable about a vertical axis and including anupper portion normally extending above the normally stationary level ofthe washing fluid, said impeller being formed of metal of high heatconductivity, a'head secured to said upper portion of the impellermember, and means within said head for visually indicating theapproximate temperature ranges of the washing fluid.

2. The combination with a washing machine having a tub adapted tocontain'washing fluid and clothes to be washed; of an impeller membermounted in the tub and rotatable about avertical axis and includingan-upper portion" nor- .mally extending above the normally stationarylevel of the washing fluid, said-impeller being formed of metal of-highlheat conductivity, and a head secured to said upper portion of theimpeller member, comprising a body, a graduated dial on the upper end ofthe body, temperature responsive means carried by the body and havingindicating means above'the dial, a transparent indicating means, gasketsat the marginal edges of opposite faces-of the cover, and a cap securedto the body and having an inturned flange engaging the upper gasket forcompressing the gaskets and sealing the marginal edge of the cover.

3. The combination'with a washing machine 'the washing fluid, saidimpeller being formed of metal of high heat conductivity, and a headsecured to said upper portion of the impeller member, comprising a bodyhaving an upwardly open recess, a bimetallic element mounted in. saidrecess, a graduated dialon the upper end of body, an indicator connectedto the bimetallic element and extending over the dial, a transparentcover mounted on the body over said indicator, and a closure capconnected to the body and having an inturned flange at its upper end forsealing the marginal edge of the cover.

4. The combination with a washing machine having a tub adapted tocontain washing fluid and clothes to be washed; of a movable impellermember in the tube, and a head mounted upon the upper portion of theimpeller member, including temperature indicating means directlyconnected to the impeller member for indicating the approximatetemperature ranges of the washing fluid, said means, comprising a bodyhaving a pair of upstandingtransversely spaced apart ears,

a spirally coiled bimetallic strip, a pinsecured to the inner end of thecoil and having its ends secured to said ears, the outer lateral surfaceof cover at the upper end of the body above said with which thegraduated surface of the coil registers.

5. The combination with a washing machine having a, tub adapted tocontain washing fluid and clothes to be washed; oi an impeller membermounted in the tub and rotatable about a vertical axis and including anupper portion normally extending above thelevel oi the washing fluid,

and a head mountedupon the upperportion of the impeller membercomprising a temperature indicating device including a body connected tosaid portion oi the impeller member and having its upper end providedwith a pair 01 transversely. spaced apart upstanding ears, a spirallycoiled bimetallic strip, a pin secured to the inner end of the coil andhaving its ends secured to said ears. the outer lateral surface of theouter convolution oi the coil having a graduated area to indicatetemperature ranges, and a closure cap connected to the body andenclosing the coil, said cap having a transparent window with which thegraduated surface of the coil re isters.

6. The combination with a washing machine having a tub adapted tocontain washing fluid and clothes to be washed; of an impeller membermounted in the tub and rotatable about a vertical axis and including aportion extending above the normal level of the washing fluid. and ahead mounted upon the upper portion of the impeller member comprising atemperature indicating device including a body connected to said upperportion of the impeller member and having an upwardly open recess, agraduated dial onvthe upper end of said body, a fluid thermal responsivetube having a bulb portion extending into the recess and an arc atelyformed portion disposed 'over said dial, a t nsparent cover on the upperend of the body above said dial and arcuately formed portion of tube,and a closure cap connected to the body and formed for sealing themarginal edge of said cover.

7. The combination with a washing machine having a tub adapted tocontain washing fluid and clothes to be washed; 0! an impeller membermounted in thetub and rotatable about a vertical axis and including aportion extending above the normal level oi the washing fluid. and ahead mounted upon the upper portion oi the impeller member comprising atemperature indicating dey means vice including a body connected to saidupper portion of the impeller member and having an upwardly open recess,a graduated dial on the upper end 01' said body, a fluid thermalresponsive tube having a bulb portion extending into the recess and anarcuately formed portion disposed over said dial, said arcuate portionof the tube and dial being disposed at ,an angle oblique to the axis ofthe impeller, a transparent cover on the upper end of the body abovesaid dial and arcuately formed portion or tube, and a closure capconnected to the body and formed for sealing the marginal edge of saidcover.

8. The combination with a washing machine having a, tub adapted tocontainwashing fluid and clothes to be washed; oi an impeller membermounted in the tub and rotatable about a vertical axis and including aportion extending above the normal level of the washing fluid, and ahead mounted upon the upper portion of the impeller member comprising atemperature indicating device including a body connected to said upperportion of the impeller member and having an upwardly open recess, agraduated dial on the upper end of said body, a fluid thermal responsivetube having a bulb portion extending into the recess and an arcuatelyformed portion member in the tub, a head having a chamber thereinmounted upon the upper end of the impeller member, and a temperatureindicating means enclosed in said chamber for indicating the approximatetemperature ranges of the washing fluid, said head including atransparent portion through which indications of the indicating meansare readable.

DAVID A. LUNDY.

